The poem is telling us something that we all struggle with
but never seem to do anything about it. Issues like race and self- identity cloud people's minds. We are all human beings,
its just that some of us come in different shapes and sizes.
Why do we point out these differences to one another? People
should be able to look past the surface and see true beauty. It'
s everywhere but most people look on and forget that life is
composed of many elements and colors. Our eyes can be deceiving but
that's not our fault, old fears and prejudices have clouded our minds.
We are all the same and that means everyone has a right to live
their life as they please.So like Toomer's poem we should see
beyond black and white.
Introduction:
Jean Toomer was a writer and poet for the Harlem's Renaissance ,who wrote many unpublished poems during his life time including People.
On Google Book Search a book was published in
1988 titled "The Collected Poems Of Jean Toomer"
by his wife, Margery Toomer Latimer and Robert B.Jones.
The book celebrates Toomer's many ideas that vary into categories
like Religion and Philosophy.
People
Excerpt from "People"
O people, if you but used
Your other eyesYou would see beings.
Jean Toomer
Analysis:
The poem is telling us something that we all struggle withbut never seem to do anything about it. Issues like race and
self- identity cloud people's minds. We are all human beings,
its just that some of us come in different shapes and sizes.
Why do we point out these differences to one another? People
should be able to look past the surface and see true beauty. It'
s everywhere but most people look on and forget that life is
composed of many elements and colors. Our eyes can be deceiving but
that's not our fault, old fears and prejudices have clouded our minds.
We are all the same and that means everyone has a right to live
their life as they please.So like Toomer's poem we should see
beyond black and white.
Finkelman, Paul. Wintz, D Cary. "Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance." Google Book Search. 2004. Taylor & Francis.
< http://books.google.com/books?id=NgIYlUbaoAoC>.
Jones, Robert. "Jean Toomer's Life and Career." Modern American Poetry. 1999.Oxford University Press.
<http://www.english.illinois.edu/Maps/poets/s_z/toomer/life.htm>
"Margery Latimer." March 2007. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margery_Latimer>.
Reuben, Paul P. "Chapter 9: Harlem Renaissance - An Introduction." Perspectives in American Literature- A Research and Reference Guide.
20 May 2009. <http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap9/9intro.html>
Toomer, Jean. "People." Wanderer'Snook. 29 January 2009.
< http://deeswanderersnook.blogspot.com/2009/01/people-by-jean-toomer-harlem.html> .
Toomer, Jean. Jones,Robert. Latimer,Margery." The collected poems of Jean Toomer." Google Book Search. 1988. UNC Press.
<http://books.google.com/books?id=oGL7yq6OPBAC&source=gbs_summary_s&cad=0>.
Toomer,Jean. "Wikipedia." March 16, 2007.<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Toomer>.
Lorena